Gonadotropin receptor variants are linked to cumulative live birth rate after in vitro fertilization

PURPOSE: The objective was to investigate if the gonadotropin receptor variants N680S (N: asparagine, S: serine, rs6166) in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and N312S (rs2293275) in the luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) predicted cumulative live birth rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: A total of 665 women were consecutively enrolled for IVF during the period 2007–2016. Inclusion criteria were < 40 years of age, body mass index < 30 kg/m(2), non-smoking, regular menstruation cycle of 21–35 days, and bilateral ovaries. A blood sample was drawn for endocrine hormonal analysis and for DNA extraction with subsequent genotyping of the FSHR N680S and LHCGR N312S polymorphisms. Statistical analyses were done on all completed IVF cycles. RESULTS: Women homozygous for S in both receptors combined (4S) had significantly higher live birth rate compared to those with other receptor variants when combining the first three IVF cycles (OR = 2.00, 95% CI [1.02, 3.92], p = 0.043). Cumulatively higher chance of live birth rate, during all IVF cycles, was also evident (HR = 1.89, 95% CI [1.00, 3.57], p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Gonadotropin receptor variants are promising candidates for the prediction of the possibility to have a baby to take home after IVF treatment.